Acoustical tile



Jun? 9 1942- L. F.VURBA|N 2,285,631

Filed July 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l E ATTORNEY-5,

June 9, 1942,. L. F. URBAIN 2,285,631

Filed July 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR. 'BYaeam jf Zfaa'fd "f @ggf Wvze/ ATTORNEY@ Patented June 9, 1942 UN IT E Df STATES PAT EN T OFF VFICE ACOUSTICALTILE Leon F; Urbain, Chicago, Ill.V

Application July 27, 1939, Serial No. 286,883

(Cl. 'Y2-118) 8 Claims.

Thel present invention relates toan improved method and means for securing. orl mounting wallv or ceiling unitsV upon an adjacent support.- ing structure.

Yet more particularly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a clip1orv fastening.

element suitable for permanently and expeditiously securing panels or .sections .to a subjacent supporting structure, which clip orfasteningelement is. concealed in the nished structure. so

as to provide a wall surface uninterrupted:` by.

visible fastening means..

The present invention relates to a tile clip of the general type and. character disclosedand claimed in my United States Patent No. 2,129,-

975, granted September 13, 1938;.andliaving'a portion adapt-ed to be supported by a subjacent supporting. structure; This portion is integral with' a web carrying opposedaprongsfor engaging within the edges of the acoustical tile mem-- bers at points spaced substantially from thescorners thereof. While my prior patent contemplates the securement of the clip to the underlying structure in any suitable manner, it specifically illustrates the interengagementV of the clip with a supporting channel member.

The present invention relates to` a tile clip particularlyy adapted for securement to.. conventional furring. strips and contemplates'the construction of a clip. adapted for interengagement with such supportingstrips to provide a rigid,

permanent construction wherein all possibility ofsagging is eliminated and the tiles are held in a uniformly predetermined plane. Furring strips are'conventionally formed of wood or some similar material, affording a base to which the fastening members or clips are nailed. It has been discovered that the fastening, or nailing, in accordance with conventional procedure, may and frequently does result in loosening of the fasteners and sagging-of the parts supported thereby, while at the'same timethe forces applied inv inated.

An additional object of the present inventlon is to providea clip construction such as the foregoing providing a; recess for' corner-engaging portion for embracing-a corner of a furringstrip against sagging. or relative twisting.` That is to say, the.v present clipA is'provided withA portions coactingwith angularly-r disposed surfaces of the fui-ring strip adjacentthe corner so that'relative rotation or movementV ofthe clip with respect to the axis of the vstripis-resistedand thetile engaging portions restrained from varying in position withrespect to the supporting; wall;

In co-operation with the immediately foregoing object,` the Vpresent .invention `additionally contemplates the provision of a relatively wide web portion extendingjfrom'the corner-engaging means for supporting; the tile in such a manner that the supporting forces are rresolved in the plane off the web whereby to .inhibit thevcreation of bends orstrains therein.

Other and further objects Willl be apparent from the' following.A description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,v

wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a ceiling assembled in accordance with thegpresent invention;

Figure 2 is Aa detailed perspective view showing the manner in whichY the present clip members interengage and support the edge of an acoustical tile ;A

Figure 3 is an elevational view showing a parftially constructed Aportion offan vupstanding wall assembled .in accordance with the present'invention;

Figure-4 is a perspective view of a pair of proposed clips forming a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 5 5 ofA Figure 1;

Figure 6 isa perspective viewof a portion of a ceiling employingv alternativeclips embodying the principles of the present invention, but wherein' the Yacoustical tiles are arranged in socalled square or matched joints as opposed to the so-called staggered joints disclosed in the previous embodiment;

Figure 7 is a detailed perspective View of an end portion of the ceiling construction shown in Figure 6 for .illustratingl the manner in which the clip of Figure r6 coacts with the furring strip and tileunits;

FigureS is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 7;

Figure9 is an elevational view of a portion of wallV constructed similar to theV ceilingk structure of Figure 6; and' Figure 10 is a perspective view of the tile clip construction employed in the structures illustrated in Figures 6 to 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein several illustrative embodiments of the present invention are shown, Figure l illustrates a ceiling construction comprising a subjacent supporting ceiling or partition Ill having furring strips I2 to which'are secured acoustical tiles I4. The furring strips I2 in the present embodiment are capable of receiving nails or other fasteners and in turn are secured to the wall I in any conventional manner.

The so-called acoustical tiles I4 comprise in the illustrative embodiment rectangular slabs or sheets of a wall-surfacing material which, in the present instance, comprises a relatively soft yielding material normally formed of compacted and bonded fibers laid edge to edge to form a continuous ceiling or surface.

The present invention contemplates the permanent and expeditious securement of the tiles to the furring strips by fastening means which are concealed, thus obviating the unsightly appearance of conventional fasteners and the marks resulting from their application. The present fasteners comprise clips I6 shown in all of the figures and appearing more in detail in Figures 2, 4, and 5. The clips shown are preferably of sheet material such as a rigid sheet metal and comprise a web section I8 adapted to extend laterally and outwardly of the furring strip I2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and terminating in turned-over, laterally-extending prongs 20. The prongs 20 extend oppositely on either side of the plane of the web I8 and are arranged on spaced axes which facilitates their manufacture from a single piece of sheet metal. It should be noted that the prongs 20 are tapered to facilitate entry into the edges of the tiles I4, into which they may be accordingly readily driven. This is clearly shown in Figure 2. One of the prongs 20 of the clip has been embedded into the edge of the tile indicated by the letter A to bring the web I8 i'latwise against the said flat edge, the oppositely extending free prong 20 being then in position to embed itself in the edge or end surface of the next succeeding tile to be brought up in edge to edge abutting relationship with the tile A.

It is particularly important to note in accordance with the present invention that the web I8 is relatively wide and terminates at its opposite extremity in a laterally extending vertical flange 22 and an angularly disposed abutment portion 24. The flange 22 is, similarly to the prongs, bent out of the plane of the web I8 by a simple manufacturing step but extends in a plane normal to the plane of the prongs 20. It is the purpose of this ange to accommodate the nail or fastener which joins the clip to the furring strip I2, and to this end the flange 22 is apertured at 26. The web 22 accordingly may be nailed ilatwise against the upstanding side or surface of the furring strip I2, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, preferably by al plaster board nail 28.

While it has been discovered that fastening clips nailed directly to the under-side of the furring strips normally tend to loosen or sag'in service, it should be noted that in accordance with the present invention the stresses are applied transversely, or in shear, to the fastener 28. Therefore,` any tendency to pull out or actually remove the fastener is negligible, remembering,

of course, that the forces which tend to remove the tiles or disarrange them with respect to the supporting structure are exerted generally transversely to the plane of the wall. It is further of extreme importance to note that in accordance with the present invention the tiles are engaged a substantial distance from the corners by the prongs 2D by virtue of the fact that the web section I8 projects and supports the prongs 20 at a substantial distance from the side of the furring strip. It has been found that this construction permits the prongs to engage the tiles without splitting or disrupting the tiles which occurs when a fastening member is driven too close to the corner. As a result of this arrangement, however, it will be obvious that a twisting or rotational stress is created by the Weight of the tiles about the point of support 22. In order to resist this stress, the present invention provides the abutment or finger portion 24 forming a part of the web and terminating in an edge extending at right angles or normal to the plane of the flange 22. The upper edge of the abutment section accordingly bears against the lower ilat surface of the furring strip I2 and effectively resists all twisting or turning stresses in the plane of the web I8. Itwill thus be seen that by cutting the end of the web I8 which is opposite the prongs 20 and along a line which is angularly acute to the upper edge of the web I8, the free flange or tab 22 is provided, which may be bent at right angles to the plane of the web I8 whereby to provide two shoulders both disposed in the plane of the web I3 at ninety degrees angularity, which shoulders are adapted to engage the corner of the furring post so that the corner rests in the apex of this cut-out portion formed when the tab 22 is bent laterally. This right angle cut-out portion forming the two shoulders in connection with the tab 22, which is nailed to the side of the furring piece, resists twisting and turning stresses in the plane of the web I8.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a tile supporting clip which may be relatively affixed to a furring strip to embrace angularly disposed surfaces of said strip in such a manner as to positively resist any twisting or rotational stresses about the axi of the strip, thereby rigidly resisting the offset forces created by the support of the tile sections and transmitting the supporting forces to the furring strip laterally of the fastener. It will be seen from the foregoing that the web being embracedbetween the contiguous edges of adjacent tile sections is well supported whereby the resultant tile supporting stresses are resolved in the plane'of the relatively wide web section I8. It will be obvious from the foregoing, therefore, that the present clip provides a rigid supporting link substantially incapable of bending, straining, or loosening in such a direction as to vary the prearranged position of the tile upon its supporting base.

The foregoing tile clip accordingly may be employed to form a wall or ceiling construction wherein the tile slabs and clips are positively interlocked as shown in Figure 2. It will be noted that in this figure the tiles are arranged in socalled staggered relationship; that is, with the longitudinal side edges in abutment and extending continuously parallel in spaced alignment with the axis of each of the furring strips. To this end the respective furring strips are spaced on centers equivalent to the width of the tile members I4 employed. The front and rear edges of the tiles are, however, staggered or spaced lin alternate lines or columns so that they abut centrally of the side edges of the adjacent tiles.y In assemblingL a structure such as shownv in Figure 1, the tiles are assembled from left to right, as viewed in the drawings, each tile-being forced upon the projecting prongs` such as shown in the figure until the rear edge is contiguous-tothe forward edge of the rearwardrtile. Then two clips vare driven into the position shown in lFigure 2 and a fastener 28 applied to lock the clip tothe adjacent corner of the furring-strip.-

It will .be obvious from the foregoing that in accordance with the present invention there must be provided right and left clips to co-operate with either side of the furring-strip. That is to say, since the attachment flange 22 should preferably be in convenient position for manipulation of thel fastener-28, this flange must be arranged in such relationship as to'extend forwardly of thev work as assembly progresses, irrespective of which side= of thev furring strip the flange is arranged. In order to accomplish this function, therefore, the respective clips are relatively constructed as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

I have disclosed in Figure 3 an upstanding` I have disclosed in Figures 6 to 10 a preferred modification of the present invention which is useful in constructing Wall or ceiling structures wherein the tiles are so arranged that their corners are contiguous,-that is to say, with'the socalled square or matched joints. In accordance with this construction, it will be apparent in'Figure 6 that both the side andend edges of the tiles I4 are arranged in contiguous alignment, the side edges being coincident with the axes of the furring strips I2 as before.A While it will be understood that my foregoing clip constructions are equally as useful for supportinggthe tile units in the instant design nevertheless I Ahave shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 a modified form of clip which coincidentally engages in supporting relationship a plurality of tiles.

The present clip comprises websections I8..and prongs 20, the webs being extended Vas at 28in what correspondsv to the previously described abutment section to form an integral bridge member which joins the respective halves in a continuous unit. It may be stated in other words that the construction unit shown iny Figure l is analogous in every respect to that previously disclosed and comprises identical or equivalent portions adapted to extend on two sides of the furring strip and perform the functions equivalent to a pair of the foregoing clips. That is to say, the present clip provides spaced flanges 22 which embrace the furring strip and are nailed to both sides thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The spacing of the flanges 22 is obviously dependent upon the length of the abutment section 28 being thereby predetermined in accordance with the width of the furring strip. In a manner similar to that shown in Figure 4, the double strip shown in Figure provides two angularly disposed shoulders lying in the plane of the web portion I8 to resist torsional stresses inthe plane of theweb' I8.

As in the previous embodiment, thepresent prongs are laterally-spacedso as to embedvwithin the-tiles at apoint spaced substantially from the corner and the offset supporting forces are rigidly resistant as'before.

Itis thought that the method of assembly of the ceiling or wall construction will be obvious from the foregoing descriptions.` It should, in any event, suffice to point out that, with the side edgesof adjacent tiles arranged as shown in Figure 7 and in` alignment with the central axis of the furring strip I2, a clip is arranged with the flanges 22 oppositely embracing the furring strip driven axially until the rearward prongs are embedded in both tile members as clearly shown.A Then, with thevsheet web portions I8 extending vertically, fasteners` 28 are driven into the furring strip I2 through the apertures 26. In progressing with the assembly subsequent pairs of tiles are arranged flatwise upon the strips I2 and in alignment, as shown in Figure 6, and forced againstthe forwardly extending free prongs-shown in-JFigure 7 to bring the subsequentv pair of tiles into contiguity with those shown in the ligure. Further assembly involves a -repetitionof this process. The vassembly of an upstanding-wallas shown in Figure 9 is substantially identical with the procedure in the foregoing embodiment.

Figure 8 illustrates the manner'in which the closedprongs 28 areembedded inthe respective adjacent surfacing slabs, being. supported by the upstanding Web I8 from the fastening flange 22.

From the foregoing. it will be. apparent that the present `invention provides a method' and means for assembling and supporting wall or ceiling slabs or units particularly from a subjaoent supporting structure which is adapted to receivey nailsv orwfasteners. The invention provides fastening clips applicablexwithout special skill and whichengage the Awall units and the supporting structure permanently. and` positively. The present clips support the. wall units freely against the furring stripsin continuous edgewise alignment. In other words, thepresent clips do not exercise their holding or supporting :function by virtue of any special tensioning or compression of the wall units in accordance with the arrangement of the clip. Thus, hitherto many fasteners have depended for their holdingfunction upon means driven through the. units or otherwise tensioning'a unit into frictional engagement with the strips. In such constructions the permanency with whichthe parts are joined depends in large measure upon the degree to which the fastener is driven into the furring strip so that the tension or compression applied directly or indirectly to the acoustical tiles may be of considerable magnitude. In such constructions it is inevitable that the material of the slabs or tiles will be somewhat distorted by the stresses encountered. This distortion may vary objeotionably byvirtue of the obvious difficulty of equally tensioning each of the points of juncture. As a result, the wall surfaces appear objectionably irregular. In accordance with the present invention, however, the application of the fastener 28 at no time imposes any appreciable strain upon the outer wall surface so that the final structure is regular and uniform in appearance.

It is to be understood that, while the present invention has been specifically disclosed for illustrative purposes in connection with the con` struction of Walls formed from so-called acoustical tiles, the present clip may be employed in assembling Various other types of construction elements or units including surfacing, or wall sections, or units of practically all types. Accordingly, the term acoustical tile as employed broadly in the specification and claims is intended to cover all such wall and construction units with which the present clip may be employed. In particular, the term acoustical tile is intended to cover, in its broad aspect, all wall surfacing units where sides or edges are adapted to receive engaging prongs, or to be otherwise embraced or engaged to an adjacent supporting structure.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts 'without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. A construction clip for supporting surfacing tiles and the like comprising a web portion adapted to extend between abutting edges f adjacent surfacing units, prong means located adjacent one extremity of the web and disposed in a plane extending angularly to that of the web, and means adjacent the other extremity of the web for securing the web to a furring strip or the like and comprising an attachment flange Vextending in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the web and to the plane of said prong means for engaging the face of a furring strip, the plane of said flange being offset substantially outwardly beyond the center line of said prong means whereby the load imposed upon the prong means is adapted to set up a twisting torque about the region of the attachment flange, and abutment means extending outwardly beyond said flange at an angle thereto and operative to engage an angularly disposed face of the furring strip to resist said torque.

2. A construction clip for supporting surfacing tiles and the like comprising a web portion adapted to extend between abutting edges of adjacent` surfacing units, prong means located adjacent one extremity of the web and disposedin a plane extending angularly to that of the web, and means adjacent the other extremity of the web for securing the web to a furring strip or the like and comprising an attachment flange extending in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the web and to the plane of said prong means for engaging the face of a furring strip, the plane of said flange being offset substantially outwardly beyond a lateral side margin of saidV prong means whereby the load imposed upon the prong means is adapted to set up a twisting torque about the region of the attachment flange, and abutment means, extending outwardly beyond said iiange at an angle thereto and operative to engage an angularly disposed face of the furring strip to resist said torque.

3. A construction clip for supporting surfacing tiles and the like comprising a web portion adapt ed to extend between abutting edges of `adjacent surfacing units, prong means located adjacent one extremity of the web and disposed in a plane extending angularly to that of the webl and means adjacent the other extremity of the web for securing the web to a furring strip or the like and comprising an attachment ange extending in a plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the web and to the plane of said prong means for engaging the face of a'furring strip,

the plane of said flange being offset substantially outwardly beyond the center line of said prong means whereby Vthe load imposed upon the prong means is adapted to set up a twisting torque about the region ofthe attachment flange, and abutment means presenting an abutment margin extending outwardly beyond said flange substantially in the plane of the web at an angle to the flange and operative to engage an angularly disposed face of the furring strip to resist said torque.

4. A construction clip for supporting surfacing tile and the like comprising a web portion adapted to extend between abutting edges of adjacent surfacing units, prong means located adjacent one extremity of the web and extending laterally therefrom, andmeans for securing the clip to a furring strip or the like and located on the web at a position remote from said prong means, said securing means comprising an attachment flange adapted for fastening flatwise against the outer surface of a furring strip, said attachment flange being disposed in a plane extending laterally from said web, the plane of said flange being offset a substantial distance outwardly on one side of the center line of said prong means, whereby the load supported by the prong means is adapted to set up a twisting moment in the region of the fastening means, and abutment means located substantially in the plane of the web and extending outwardly beyond said attachment flange at an angle thereto and operative to engage an angularly disposed face of the furring strip to positively resist said twisting moment.

5. A construction clip for supporting surfacing tile and the like comprising a web portion adapted to extend between abutting edges of adjacent surfacing units, prong means located adjacent one extremity of the web and extending laterally therefrom, and means for securing the clip to a furring strip or the like and located on the web at a position remote fromrsaid. prong meansy said securing means comprising a pair of spaced, parallel attachment flanges adapted for fastening i'latwise against the outer surface of a furring strip, said attachment flanges, being disposed in planes extending laterally from said web, the planes of said flanges being oiset a substantial distance outwardly of one side of the center line of said prong means, whereby the load supported by the prong means is adapted to set up a twistin g moment in the region of the fastening means, and abutment means located substantially in the plane of the web and extending outwardly between said attachment anges at an angle thereto and operative to engage an angularly disposed face of the furring strip to positively resist said twisting moment.

6. A construction clip for supporting surfacing tiles and the like comprising a web adapted to project between abutting edges of adjacent surfacing units, said web extending in a longitudinal axial direction defined by prong means located adjacent one extremity of said axis and extending laterally from the web and means spaced along said axis for securing the clip to a furring strip or the like, said securing means including a line of severance formed in said web along a line extending at an acute angle to the said longitudinal axis of the web, one edge of the severance providing an abutment edge adapted to impinge a face of a furring strip in abutting relation, the opposite edge portion of the severance being bent laterally to the, web.

along a line extending at an angle to the abutment edge to form an attachment iiange, said attachment flange being disposed in a plane extending generally parallel to the axis of said prong means and making an acute angle with said longitudinal axis of the web but being offset a substantial distance on one side of the center line of said prong means whereby a twisting torque set up by the load imposed on said prong means is adapted to be resisted by said abutment edge.

'7. A construction clip for supporting surfacing tile and the like comprising a web portion adapted to extend between abutting edges of adjacent surfacing units, prong means located adjacent one extremity of lthe web and extending laterally therefrom, and means for securing the clip to a furring strip or the like and located on the web at a position remote from said prong means, said securing means comprising an attachment flange adapted for fastening flatwise against the outer surface 'of a furring strip, said attachment flange being disposed in a plane extending laterally from said web, the plane of said ange being offset a substantial distance outwardly on one side of the center line of said prong means, whereby the load supported by the prong means is adapted to set up a twisting moment in the region of the fastening means, and abutment means located substantially in -the plane of the web and extending outwardly beyond said attachment ange at an angle thereto and operative to engage an angularly disposed face of the furring strip to positively resist said twisting moment, and a second attachment flange extending laterally from said abutment edge in spaced parallel relation to said first mentioned attachment flange for embracing the opposite face of the furring strip.

8. A construction clip for supporting surfacing tiles and the like comprising a web adapted to project between abutting edges of adjacent surfacing units, said web extending in a longitudinal axial direction defined by prong means located adjacent one extremity of said axis and extending laterally from the web and means spaced along said axis for securing the clip to a furring strip or the like, said securing means including a line of severance formed in said web along a line extending at an acute angle to the said longitudinal axis of the web, one edge of the severance providing an abutment edge adapted to impinge a face of a furring strip in abutting relation, the opposite edge portion of the severance being bent laterally to the web along a line extending at an angle to the abutment edge to form an attachment Aange, said attachment ange being disposed in a plane at substantially right angles to said abutment edge but being oiset a substantial distance on one side of the center line of said prong means whereby a twisting torque set up by the load imposed on said prong means is adapted to be resisted by said abutment edge.

LEON F. URBAIN. 

